Whom can I contact if I have questions about the hackathon?

Submission Requirements

What do I need to use to build my app?

To be eligible for prizes, participants must use at least one of the products and tools available at dev.office.com. There are a ton of options to work with, including the Microsoft Graph API, OneDrive, Teams, and Fabric UI.

What APIs or datasets can I include in my app?

You may use whatever additional APIs, SDKs, and datasets you choose, as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them. Remember, you MUST meet the requirements above in order to be eligible for a prize.

Why do I have to upload a video?

The Popular Choice award is determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that all users can view and experience your app. The video will also be helpful to the panel of judges and will give you the opportunity to explain your approach to designing your application. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that demonstrates the application’s features.

What should I put in my video?

Aside from your actual app, your submission video is one of the most important parts of your entry. In fact, it’s often one of the first, and sometimes only, things that judges and voters view. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:

Tell your story step-by-step.Y our video should include an explanation of the problem addressed and a demo of the app itself. While audio isn’t required, narration or text bubbles can help judges and voters understand your submission.

Keep it simple. Per the official rules, your video shouldn’t be longer than five minutes. In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your video. Keep in mind that the time it takes to upload/process a video on YouTube or Vimeo varies greatly depending on the format of your original video, the file size, upload traffic and Internet connection speed, and could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or more.

Testing Process

How can I provide Devpost with access to test my app?

You must provide a way for us to test your solution at no cost.

Add-ins that are not publicly available: If the add-in isn’t available publicly, you must attach or link to the manifest XML file for sideloading.

Apps that include hardware and wearable technology: If the submission runs on or includes proprietary hardware or hardware (including wearable technology) that is not widely available to the public, the Sponsor and/or Administrator reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to require the submitter to provide access to the physical hardware solution, or device required to test the solution, upon request.

Traditional Applications: For solutions running on widely available devices or hardware, please allow us to test using one of the following methods.

Android solution: Upload an .apk file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.

iOS Applications: If your solution is available on the App Store please provide a link in the “Website URL” field on the submission form. If you charge for your app, please also provide a promo code.

If your solution is not yet publicly available, send a test build using one of the following methods:

Send us your beta file via Diawi. After uploading your file, Diawi creates a unique short URL to access the installation page (for ex: aBcDeF). When opened in Safari on the iOS device, the page will display a link to install the application. Note that you will need to include provisioning for one or more of the UDIDs below.

You may send the Administrator a beta test via Crashlytics. Use the Administrator’s testing email (testing@devpost.com) and UDID’s to provision a build and send the Administrator a link via the “Share Links” button. Add the testing link to the Enter a Submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Beta by Crashlytics is a free service. Please review the how-to for their Beta Distribution tool.

Enter the Administrator’s email address to share a build for testing. The Administrator’s TestFlight account email is: testing@devpost.com. Please note that if you add the Administrator as an “External Tester” your Application will need to go through Beta App Review before you can send your build. This could lead to delay and in order for your Submission to be eligible, you must send your test build before the end of the Challenge Submission Period. To learn more about TestFlight via iTunes Connect, please review the iTunes Connect Developer Guide and the TestFlight Video Tutorial.

Send a testing link to the Administrator at: testing@devpost.com, and add the testing link on the Enter a Submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Please note that there is a fee to use HockeyApp.

Windows Phone solution: Upload an .xap file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.

Web/Mobile Web: Provide a link for us to access your solution on the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.

Mac OS: Upload the appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.

Windows PC: Upload the appropriate installation files (.exe) in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your .exe file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.

Eligibility & IP

Who is eligible to enter the competition?

The hackathon is open to individuals, and teams of individuals, who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. The hackathon is also open to legally registered corporations or organizations.

Please review the Official Rules for complete eligibility requirements.

We are an organization. Can we enter?

Organizations with 50 or fewer employees may enter and compete for cash prizes. Organizations with more than 50 employees can enter for the Large Org. Recognition Prize (non-cash).

Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?

Existing applications are eligible for this competition as long as they are update during the submission period. Existing apps will be required to explain how they were updated.

Can more than one person work on an app and receive credit for it? And if the app wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?

Yes, teams are encouraged. If a team of individuals or an organization is selected as an award winner, the full prize amount will be sent to the submitter. It will be up to the winning team or organization to reallocate the prize money between the team members, as they deem it appropriate.

Can my app win more than one prize?

Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations can compete for one overall prize as well as the Popular Choice. The Best use of Microsoft Graph, Best SharePoint App, Best Office 365 Add-in, and Best Teams Integration prizes will go to the highest scoring submissions in the category that did not also win an overall prize.

Can I enter more than one app?

Yes. There is no limit to how many times an eligible person, team, or organization may enter. An individual may also participate on behalf of more than one team, corporation, or nonprofit organization. However, if you submit two or more solutions that are identical or substantially similar, Microsoft and Devpost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition.

Do I retain intellectual property ownership?

Yes. By submitting an app to the hackathon, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to Microsoft or Devpost. Microsoft and Devpost will have the right to feature all app entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.

What else will you do with my submission?

Microsoft and Devpost will have the right to publicly display your submission on the hackathon website. They will also be allowed to publicize your name on the hackathon website in connection with the submission and the hackathon during the competition and for 36 months after its conclusion. For more information on publicity rights, please see the Official Rules.

Public Voting

How does public voting work?

Visitors to the site can vote for as many submissions as they like, but no more than once for a single submission. At the end of the public voting period, the votes will be tallied and verified to determine the Popular Choice award winner. Have more questions about public voting? Check out our handy public voting help article.